Donna Adelson Found Guilty in 2014 Murder Case

Donna Adelson, the family matriarch, was visibly emotional in court on Thursday after being convicted of orchestrating the 2014 murder of Daniel Markel, a respected academic from Florida State University. Markel was shot in a driveway, and prosecutors described the killing as a deliberate plan to help Adelson’s daughter, Wendy, gain full custody of her children amid a contentious divorce.

As the verdict of first-degree murder was read, Adelson reportedly exclaimed, “What a god!” while visibly trembling. The presiding judge, Stephen Everett, asked her to regain her composure, aware of the gravity of the moment. She was given a brief pause to collect herself after the outburst.

During the trial, evidence indicated that both Donna and her son, Charlie, were complicit in plotting the murder to facilitate a fresh start for Wendy in South Florida. Adelson was apprehended in 2023 at Miami International Airport while attempting to flee to Vietnam, a country that does not extradite to the U.S.

Prior to her conviction, Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua, who acted as an intermediary in arranging the murder, had already been sentenced. Sigfredo Garcia, the hitman hired, received life in prison. Wendy Adelson has denied any participation in the crime and remains uncharged.

After the verdict, Markel’s mother expressed the profound loss felt by the family, stating, “We’ve lost our treasure,” referring to her son, who was only 41 when his life was cut short. The judge indicated that sentencing for Donna Adelson would be scheduled, with case management set for October 14th.